While the allure of eternal youth is a tale as old as time, nowadays the quest for longevity has taken on a new, high-tech form: the embrace of NAD+ boosters, hailed as modern-day elixirs.
NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, has become the latest obsession in the world of wellness, joining the ranks of Botox and Ozempic. The Kardashians are known to receive NAD+ infusions, while Joe Rogan extols its virtues for bolstering immunity. Even the military has jumped aboard, exploring the potential of NAD+ boosters to rejuvenate soldiers in the field.
The rise of NAD+ as a wellness staple mirrors the trajectory of other health trends. Just as Hollywood stars once flocked to Ozempic for off-label weight loss before it gained FDA approval, biohackers and wellness enthusiasts are now turning to NAD+ drips, powders, and capsules in hopes of preserving their youth, energy, and vitality. Many of these supplements remain under clinical scrutiny, with the FDA banning the sale of several NAD+ products until more research is conducted.
NAD+ is crucial to life itself, playing a pivotal role in energy production within our cells. According to biochemist Charles Brenner, NAD coenzymes are essential for converting the food we eat into the energy our bodies use to function. Without sufficient NAD+, people can suffer severe health consequences, including neurological issues and skin disorders, which can ultimately lead to death. On the flip side, high NAD+ levels are believed to help people feel sharper, more rested, and energetic—essentially, more youthful.
As we age, our bodies’ ability to produce NAD+ diminishes. While younger individuals typically generate adequate NAD+ through diet and exercise, older adults, especially those in their 60s and 70s, may benefit from a boost. However, whether such supplements offer any real benefit to those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s remains an open question.
Despite the promises, not all NAD-boosting supplements deliver the desired results. For nearly a century, scientists have recognized the importance of NAD+ to our health – it’s the reason niacin, an NAD precursor, is commonly added to flour and cereal. Yet, it wasn’t until the last 20 years that research began revealing the remarkable potential of NAD+—studies on mice showed that boosting NAD+ levels could extend lifespan, increase muscle mass, reduce inflammation, and mitigate age-related diseases.
Around a decade ago, the science behind NAD+ moved out of research labs and into the wellness industry, giving rise to companies dedicated to NAD+ supplementation. Today, boosting NAD+ is a trend among biohackers, athletes, and those obsessed with longevity.
Dr. Sabine Donnai, a physician at London’s Viavi longevity clinic, has tested various NAD formulations on her patients and found that neither NAD+ supplements nor IVs were particularly effective, with blood tests showing minimal impact. Independent experts like Dr. Shin-ichiro Imai of Washington University echo this sentiment, explaining that the NAD molecule is too large to be efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body when taken orally.
Most experts thus recommend NAD precursors—compounds like nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)—which the body can use to produce NAD+. For many, simple lifestyle changes may suffice to maintain NAD levels. Walking, eating NAD-rich foods like meat, fish, nuts, and even cucumbers, can provide a natural boost.
Donnai, for example, would advise most healthy, young clients to focus on sensible lifestyle choices over expensive supplements. For those who could genuinely benefit from an NAD boost, she recommends a powder blend of NR, NMN, and NAM, which can be mixed into a smoothie. Still, even with such a regimen, a small percentage of her clients show no increase in NAD levels, leaving experts puzzled as to why.
